Kenya amateurs’ record breaker Michael Karanga defeated club mate Michael Ngene yesterday Scratch match play final played at the Kiambu golf club.
With the victory, Karanga will lead the top amateurs at the Pro-Am CPA Mike Nyangi’s Captain’s Prize that tees off on today evening running all the way to Saturday.
In the 36 hole scratch tournament final, Karanga won 7-5 against Ngene in the neck to neck battle before the winner managed to win in the 31st hole to take home the title.
In the first 18 holes, they scored 2-up with the champion recording 2nd and 13th pars five and three, with all pars and a bogey in the 8th and 15th and double bogeys in 5th and 12th while Ngene managed a birdie in 5th par four with all pars except a bogey in three, eighth, and 17th and dropping two in 14th.
As the journey to 36 hole started, it was an easy run for Karanga who fired four birdies in 3rd, 6th 11th and 12th with all pars while Ngene managed only pars with a bogey in 4th and 13th.
The match play which teed off last month, was set to celebrate the top amateurs at the club in the run up to the Captain’s Prize.
In the semis, Ngene defeated junior golfer Elvis Muigua 1-up while Karanga was the winner against A. Matheka 6-7.
The Kenya Amateur Golf Championships series leader said that at the Pro-Am tournament, he has to prove that he can perform well at home.
“Starting tomorrow (Thursday) I have to prove that Kiambu is really my home club. With the Kiambu matchplay scratch tournament is meant to build the stamina for the home players to challenge ourselves and see if we can maneuver in all areas. It’s part of our practice,” said Karanga who is ranked 83 in the world amateur ranking after winning 13 tournaments.